Pope Formosus

Prologue Gasps of terror echoed throughout the room as the gruesome spectacle was brought in. Pope Stephen VI grinned, triumphantly, as his will was worked. He had been waiting for this day for a long time. The basilica was filled with exclamations as the object was seated on the chair, and members of the jury covered their eyes. Even before the rich linen veil was lifted, the audience knew what was being covered. They had heard about Pope Stephen VI’s insane requests, and his eerie ideas. The figure was dressed in the finest papal robes, with rich gold and purple embroidery patterning the hems. However, the picturesque image was ruined by the gruesome, blistered, and decayed hands protruding from the soiled sleeves. A deacon lifted the veil…

were emphasized giving money to the church rather than focusing on emphasizing faith. Martin Luther wrote a complaint to Pope Leo about this abuse and challenged all of the preachers to a debate over the theology of indulgences. This dispute was a contest between the two strong willed men and it largely ignored the theological objections. Pope Leo regarded the letter as a challenge…

be caused by sudden urbanization of Europe and early influencers of higher education During the High Middle Ages a rise in economic activity would come from a revival of trade that would occur from the rebuilding of old cities and creation of new cities that would be major urban centers throughout Europe. The rise in bigger cities led to people moving from a poor rural life to live a more “prosperous” life in the crowded Urban Centers of Europe (1) Urbanization of Europe…

Was Catholicism responsible for the Dark Ages? In history class we have read about the great ancient empires that came before us, such as the Greeks, the Romans, and the Egyptians. During our studies we also learned about , the time in between the 6th and 14th century this period has come to be known as the “Dark Ages”. Many historians believe that the term Dark Ages might not be very accurate and that the reasons behind the origins of the Dark Ages, aren’t well understood. Most were taught…

Without this type of experienced and knowledgeable administrative role found under the guidance of the Pope, it is evident that these smaller kingdoms would continue to be fractious and quarreling tribal monarchies, as they were before the 6th century. In this manner, the rise of the papacy brought Roman administrative skills to govern these small kingdoms as they began to develop into more unified and developed monarchies into the 7th, 8th, and 9th…

Reformation and Counter Reformation Views of the Church Martin Luther, though he was vital in bringing reform to the many travesties of the Church, created a divided within the Catholic Church based on a radical understanding and interpretation of what “church” was. Luther believed that the Catholic Church was the “historical church” which has existed in time but not necessarily always with God. It was filled with corrupt clergy, especially the pope, who were godless men, whose positions were…

Whilst there may be some truth in the distinction: Protestants destroy property and Catholics kill, it is a gross over-simplification of the religious violence associated with the Early Modern era to characterise it in such a binary manner. At best, it is a sweeping generalisation based upon the assumption that Protestant property destruction is driven by their anti-iconic beliefs, who felt that they had a legitimate objection to the wrongful use of material objects during worship: something…

The location of the metropolis of Constantinople was strategically located between the European and Asian continents. It was known for its colossal infrastructure, easy access of trade routes between continents and diverse cultural background. This massive city was also the capital of the Byzantine Empire, an empire built on a wealth of gold and Christianity. The strategic location of the metropolis of Constantinople plays a critical role in its functions as an imperial capital, trade emporium…

4. Sikhism is syncretic, a creation from the mix of Hinduism and Islam that originated in southern India. Bhaktism was fundamentalist as when Islam arrived in India it was created as a more focused sect of Hinduism that blocked out Islamic influences and was based more on the gods Vishnu and shiva. Wahhab was extreme fundamentalist and was created from the idea that Islam was spreading to wide and changing too much, going as far as destroying items of previously cultures and faiths, all ideals…

Baroque, “derived from the Portuguese word barroco, meaning oddly shaped pearl,” was a period beginning at about 1600 and ending at approximately 1750. The Baroque was a reformation of both the art and architectural worlds, being that the focus turned to a more exaggerated, clear, and easily interpreted view of artistic pieces. The Baroque started in Rome around 1600 and before it ended, it had spread all across the European continent. The style that the Baroque brought to Europe was…